SQ redemption sale

 

SQ is having a 20% redemption sale globally with certain blackout periods. Credit to milelion for constantly scanning the SQ website so the rest of us don't have to. 

Looking at Osaka, there is a blackout for the peak Sakura season 12/3-9/4.  But the week after that, there are still plenty of cherry blossoms left (I went to Japan in mid-April in 2024). 

The availability of tickets to Japan is pretty good (eg: Haneda, Kansai have 3 flights a day and redemptions for all 3 flghts are generally available). I have redeemed a couple of tickets for next year.

As my plan is to go for short trips, I will be able to adjust my schedule to accommodate this and I did this successfully in 2024. I can still take Zoom work calls when in Japan since the timezones are not so different.

Strategy: Sep 2025

 

Despite tariff woes and the ICE raid on the US Hyundai plant, Kospi has hit a record high. I have decent exposure to Kospi via my large holding on Vanguard's Asia Pacific ETF VDPX. 

As everything seems to be hitting new highs, I have to be really disciplined about steady DCA of ETFs.  At the same time, I can't help but look at SREITs again and wonder if they are undervalued. I have bought tiny amounts of FLCT and CDLHT to top up my holdings.

Finally, I had some excess cash in my SRS, and while I primarily buy Lion Global All Seasons unit trusts with SRS cash, the 0.53% expense ratio of the JPMorgan Global Research Enhanced Index Equity SGD caught my eye. While obviously more expensive than an ETF, I think its potentially useful addition to my SRS portfolio. It basically tracks MSCI World and the using Magnificent 7 are all represented in the portfolio. In other words, this isn't a dividend fund so the fact that its subject to 30% withholding tax on US dividends isn't too big a problem. 

CPF Life

 There is currently an active discussion thread in HWZ on CPFLife, with reference to Mr 1M65's CPFLife Strategy. 

As I will need to make the decision on this in the next few years, I put a little thought in it and will use this blogpost to record down my preliminary thoughts

(1) There is an opportunity cost after setting aside the FRS or ERS at age 55 as payments only start at age 65 (or later if you want to defer). The opportunity cost arises because at age 55 you should still be mentally active and still able to manage your investments. On a 10 year holding period, MSCI World should outperform CPF Life interest.

(2) On the other hand, setting aside FRS of about $213k+ is not a huge amount and can represent the 'ultra-safe' fixed income portion of your portfolio yielding a decent risk-free interest. For example, after my $200k of SSB mature, I could roll this over into MSCI World instead of fresh SSB/T-bills, since I have $213k FRS sitting in CPF.

(3) Currently, I'm not inclined towards ERS. CPF gives bonus interest for the first $60k. So the ERS amount set aside, you only get 4% interest. From age 55 - 65, I believe that I will still have enough investing ability left to to beat 4%.

(4) Reading various forum posts, it appears that our views are deeply affected by the experience of our parents, grandparents, and other older relatives.  

(5) My parents have hit 80 years milestone and hopefully I have inherited their longevity genes. I hope to stay healthy and fit and collect CPF Life at age 65. 

All this may change as I get closer to 55 and get more information / different views. I'm just writing this down now as a reference point. 

  

Dividends Collected: August 2025

 

S$32.8k for August 2025. In comparison $31.8k in August 2024, so only a marginal increase. However, it's not a perfect comparison because several counters seem to be inconsistent in relation to which month they pay their dividends (while some counters never seem to change)

Since I have been investing in US stocks in 2025 and bought a fair amount of LionGlobal All Seasons Unit Trust (which doesn't pay dividends) instead of channelling most of the money to dividend stocks or interest bearing T-bills, the best I can hope for is marginal growth in dividends this year I guess.